SHAKESPEARE, William.
The Plays of William Shakspeare.Nicholls, Rivington, Stockdale, Lowndes et al, London. 1813 - First edition thus. Octavo. 21 volumes. Corrections and illustrations of various commentators to which are added, notes, by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. Revised and augmented by Isaac Reed, with a glossarial index. Volumes I - III contain the advertisements, An account of the Life of William Shakspeare, Additional Anecdotes, Shakspeare's Will, preface of The Players and others, essays, poems, his works in chronological order, and an historical account of the English stage. Vol. IV: Tempest, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Midsummer Night's Dream; Vol. V: Merry Wives of Windsor, Twelfth Night; Vol. VI: Much Ado About Nothing, Measure For Measure; Vol. VII: Love's Labour's Lost, Merchant of Venice; Vol. VIII: As You like It, All's Well That Ends Well: Vol. IX: Taming of the Shrew, Winter's Tale; Vol. X: Macbeth, King John; Vol. XI: King Richard II, King Henry IV Part 1; Vol. XII: King Henry IV, Part II, King Henry V.; Vol. XIII: King Henry VI Parts I and II; Vol. XIV: King Henry VI Part III, King Richard III; Vol. XV: King Henry VIII, Troilus and Cressida; Vol. XVI: Coriolanus, Julius Caesar; Vol. XVII: Anthony and Cleopatra, King Lear; Vol. XVIII: Hamlet, Cymbeline; Vol. XIX: Timon of Athens, Othello; Vol. XX Romeo and Juliet, Comedy of Errors; and, Vol. XXI: Titus Andronicus, Pericles together with addenda and the glossarial index to all volumes. Each play has an extra title engraved with a vignette. Contemporary binding of full burgundy straight-grain morocco with raised bands, gilt rules and decorations, all edges gilt.Extra-illustrated set, each play having numerous contemporary engravings of scenes, characters and views by various artists, most notable among whom is Henry Fuseli.From the library of the leading Tory politician R.A. (''Rab'') Butler, with his armorial bookplate on the pastedown of each volume.A couple of volumes have split hinges so that that the text blocks are loose within the boards. Rubbing to covers. Some offsetting from plates onto facing pages. A very good set. [Attributes: First Edition; Hard Cover]
[Bookseller: Peter Ellis, Bookseller, ABA, ILAB]